Elementary Classroom Teacher (8 years), Certified and Licensed Learning Specialist with a Master's in Learning Disabilities/Special Education, Elementary School Learning Specialist 2 + years, Academic Coach, Executive Functioning Specialist, and Independent Educational Consultant 25 years +, Proctor/Supervisor for ACT and AP tests at Glenbrook South High School
Volunteer Positions - Co-chair and chair of Educational Therapists for PLD/SE (Professionals in Learning Disabilities/Special Education) 25 + years; Glenbrook North High School college guidance office volunteer, helping facilitate meetings between admissions representatives and students plus filing and other office work (10 years); President and Executive Board Member of For All the Children, raising funds for creative outlets for hospitalized children, Grief groups, Cancer Wellness Center, hospices, and One Step At a Time Camp Scholarships (22 years); Founding Board Vice President of the Oil Lamp Theater (2 years); Special Education District Puppeteer for Elementary School skits, teaching diversity, understanding, and kindness for disabled students or those needing accommodations;
Description of Services : A holistic approach to coaching students includes assessing strengths and preferences, college planning, college search, essay assistance, interviewing skills, executive skills training, test prep, academic instruction, and support through the admissions process as needed.My highly individualized approach guiding a small number of students results in excellent, timely communication and attention to detail. I have strong writing skills that I teach to students throughout the essay process in one-on-one lessons to brainstorm, outline, and revise personal essays to respond thoroughly to college prompts. Students write authentic essays independently with benchmarks for completion and review. I help to destress the process.
Description of Experience : I have been successfully teaching and working with students for academic instruction and executive skills for over twenty-five years. I am a Certified Learning Specialist and experienced teacher for students through college and beyond. In addition, the past eighteen years, I have worked students for college placement. I participated in a Summer Training Institute at Swarthmore College for college consultants in 2012. For ten years prior to the institute, I volunteered in the college guidance department of the local high school serving as a liaison between admissions officers and students. Also, I regularly attend workshops, conferences, college fairs, and virtual meetings with admissions directors for college consulting and other educational topics, and I tour college campuses throughout the year. I keep current by meeting with admissions officers, listening to webinars, and partaking in discussions with other consultants. As a past proctor and supervisor for ACT, SAT, and AP testing at a local high school, I gained insights to the testing process students undergo, which helps my instruction as a test prep tutor. I have been trained to teach University of Kansas Learning Strategies Curriculums for excellence in writing, grammar, testing, and executive skills.